Homemade Cake Boards And Boxes
Decorating By RitzyFritz Updated 15 Sep 2006 , 2:31pm by courtneybelken
I'm sure there are instructions somewhere on this site on how to make your own professional looking cake boards but I need directions on getting to those instructions, please! If they are not on this site, does anyone make their own and would you mind sharing how to do this??
Also....what do you do when you have a last minute order and have NO cake box to deliver it in? That happened to me this past weekend and I had to deliver it in a Sunny Delight box!! 
That was NOT a good thing IMHO! I have heard of a lady who makes her own boxes but don't know how she does it. Anyone do this also...and would you share that as well?
Thanks so much for helping this newbie! 
I make my own cake boards by using ordinary corregated cardboard (I prefer the ones that have had fruit in from the supermarket - they are super strong, made to hold a lot of weight!), I draw around the pan I'm using and then cut around leaving a good 2in allowance beyond the drawn line all around. I then tape 2 or 3 together depending on the weight/size of the cake, place the board on a suitable wrapping paper cut around leaving a 4in overlap, work my way around the board taping the paper to the underside. Finally I cover the wrapped board with sheet cellophane (food-use), again cut larger and tape that underneath too. You can see lots of finished examples in my gallery!
I don't do my own boxes, but would love to know how, as I can't buy them here ! I either send them in plastic storage boxes which I later have returned (which I think is safer than a cake box anyway!), or use a plain cardboard box.
You can also have sturdy boards cut from 1/2 plywood, or masonite. Put your name and number in permanent marker on the bottom of the board, the cover it as needed.
Be careful of used cardboard. Corregated cardboard that has been in food warehouses. That is where pesky insects can hide out. You would NOT want to bring any of them home.
I know someone who works with corregated cardboard and they cut my boards the right size for me. As far as covering them, I found a 1000 foot roll of silver paper on e-bay for about $15.00 and it works great.
For my boxes, I have bought some in bulk, but have not been happy with them. They fit very tight and the side tend to mess up the sides of my cake. So, I watch at Hobby Lobby for their Wilton sale, most of the time it is 50% off all wilton no matter how much you buy. I stock up then!!
The best way I have found to cut your own boards is to use foam core. It cuts easily with a craft knife and needs no covering (unless you are using it as a base, of course). It is also much sturdier than corrugated cardboard. And it is used by the biggest names in cake such as Colette Peters, Mike McCarrey, etc.
If you need to make a box, you can custom make one of corrugated cardboard and packaging tape.
I also use plywood boards for my more heavier/complicated cakes. I've started including a 10$ refundable "fee" to get my boards back. I've not had a problem at all getting them back though. As far as boxes, I get the largest box I can that will fit the board then modify the lid with plastic wrap and tape to get it to cover but not hit the cake.
For cake boards, I try to keep the bigger sizes on hand, and cut to fit smaller ones. When I first did cakes, I actually used pizza boxes and covered them---lol. That was such a long time ago. 
As for boxes, I use the flimsy (and cheap!) boxes, if I am delivering it. I have recently started doing something that might help with last minute orders. Take any heavy duty box and turn in inside out. Just undo the box where it is glued or stapled. Refold it with the print on the inside and tape it together.
I still have a young one in diapers, so I use the boxe that the wipes come in to transport small cakes, I also use those to mail packages.
Oh, I just had another thought. You could keep some boxes coverd in inexpensive paper.
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